Homework

My father hurried over to me and took me from Yuasa.

“Saki… Everything will be okay now.” Father’s words made me feel emotional. I hugged him tightly as I closed my eyes.

After a moment, he led me to the car. I glanced back at Yuasa. He just stood and watched. Then he turned around and headed back to school. Even though he was being annoying… He still helped me… I can at least thank him for that.

Father took me to the hospital. He mentioned that Yuasa told him about the situation.

“Be careful. Don’t throw yourself into danger. I don’t like seeing you hurt,” father said.

“I’ll be more careful next time…” I told him.

“I hope there isn’t a next time.”

At the hospital, the doctor took a look at my ankle. He determined that I had a minor sprain. I just needed to keep off of it and use a cold compress for the swelling. He gave me medicine to help as well. I went home to get some rest afterwards.

Once I was home, I realized that I never texted Kishi.

“Hey Kishi, I heard you were looking for me. I’m alright. I’m at home currently.”

“Saki!! Are you really alright?! Did anything happen?!”

“Yeah, well… Your friends talked with me. It didn’t go very well. I’ll be alright though.”

“I’m so sorry!! They were acting strange and I knew something was going to happen! I’m so sorry I couldn’t stop them! Did they hurt you…? I’m so so so sorry…”

“It’s not your fault. I did get hurt but it’ll heal with some rest.”

“I’m sorry… I wish I could help. But you should definitely get some rest. I’ll have a talk with them!”

“It’s alright, Kitahashi-san already helped me. The student council will take care of it.”

“Kitahashi-san? That’s good. Please get better soon.”

“Thanks, I’ll do my best.”

I felt better after contacting him. I laid down on my bed to rest and put what happened today behind me.

It just happened to be the weekend. Or did those girls plan this so maybe my wounds would have healed more before I went back to school? I wonder if the student council found them yesterday or contacted them today. Or maybe they’re waiting until after the weekend. Either way, I bet they were surprised that I reported them. I hope they’re taken care of properly so I don’t have to worry about it anymore.

Father let me rest at home even after the weekend. Kishi kept checking in every day to see how I was doing. And just before I was ready to go back to school with crutches under my arms, I got another text from someone else checking in.

“How are you, Shiotani-kun?”

He… He definitely saw his name in my phone… He probably guessed that that meant I was Rose…

“I’m alright, Kitahashi-san.”

“So you are Shiotani-kun. What was the point of acting like a different person named Rose?”

“Maybe I just didn’t want to talk to you.”

“You’ve made that clear several times. And yet you’re still talking to me now.”

“And you’re still talking to me too. You even asked how I was doing.”

“I saw the sorry state you were in. Although I’m not bothered by most things, this incident happened to tug on my conscience.”

“I’m glad to know you can care for others.”

“I’m not a robot. How much time off school will you be taking?”

“Do you want to know?”

“I’m asking because your friend has been acting bothered this whole time. It’s annoying.”

“I’m coming back tomorrow. What happened to those girls by the way?”

“They were suspended. I would have liked to see them expelled but of course their parents didn’t want that. I’m sure they won’t bother you in the future though.”

“I see. I hope not.”

“If they do bother you, what will you do?”

He’s so annoying…

“I’ll tell the student council. Happy now?”

“Very much so. Keep your word or you’ll be hearing from me again.”

“You’re kind of like a nagging parent right now.”

“Gross. I don’t want kids.”

“That’s mean…”

“How is it mean? Kids are a handful. I can only take care of one person and that’s myself.”

“Right…”

He says that… but didn’t he take care of me? Although it was so half-assed that maybe I shouldn’t count it.

“Anyway, I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, ‘Rose’.”

Ugh… I’m embarrassed… I had to put my phone down and cringe. Being Rose… Being the mysterious Rose… Was it actually a bad idea in the long run? I only ran into trouble because of it. That’s it, I won’t be Rose anymore. I’ll have to stick with my average self…

Once I told Kishi that I’d be back at school tomorrow, he decided to meet me at the entrance of the school. He was practically in tears, apologizing again. I tried to calm him down. Then he let me go to my homeroom. I received the homework that I missed and I didn’t like the look of the stack.

I got some looks from other students while I limped with my crutches. I hoped that my ankle would be completely healed already. Yorikane asked me what happened, getting even more looks from my classmates. I just brushed it off, saying I fell and twisted my foot. He wished for my ankle to heal quickly. After everything that happened between us, I have neutral feelings towards him now.

I ate lunch with Kishi, needing to eat in the cafeteria because sitting on the ground and standing up would be hard. I managed to make it through the day and arrived at my club with him. I pulled out my homework instead of a book. I just need to sit down and get it done… Or the cycle of homework will never end. Yuasa decided to join us.

“When will your foot be healed?” he asked.

“The doctor said two weeks,” I replied.

“It’s almost been one then.”

“Do you have a lot of homework, Saki…?” Kishi seemed to pale at the stack I put on the table.

“Yeah… I’m going to drown in it…”

“If you need help with it, this is your only chance to ask me,” Yuasa said.

I looked at him. “Are you going to do it for me?”

He frowned. “No. You still need to learn the content or you’ll fail your tests.”

“Then I’ll just do it by myself…” I looked down to focus on the paper in front of me.

“I meant that if you get stuck, I can help you. You missed class so maybe you’ll have a hard time.”

“I think I’ll be alright.”

With that confident answer, everyone was quiet to let me work. And as I worked… I came across some parts of the homework that I wasn’t sure about.

I glanced at Kishi next to me. He was invested in the book he was reading. I looked over at Yuasa across from us. He was also reading. But then he looked up and our eyes met. I looked away.

“Do you have something to say, Shiotani-kun?” he asked.

I frowned, not wanting to admit it.

“After today, I won’t offer to help again, you know.”

I looked at him again. “I don’t think I’ll ever need your help again after this.”

“So are you asking me for help?”

I sighed. “Just… a little bit…”

He stared at me. I didn’t know what he was looking at. Are my scars peeking out…? I still have my bangs to cover them… But then something I never imagined would happen happened.

Yuasa smiled a little. His eyes seemed to soften for once. Those cold blue eyes had a warmness to them. And his smile… The subtle curve of his upturned lips… It was a very handsome smile. My face felt hot and I wasn’t sure how to react.

He stood up and sat next to me. His smile had faded as he grabbed my homework to take a look. I could only stare at him.

“You need to change your answer here,” he said, pointing to the paper in his hand. I was still in shock and couldn’t answer. He met my eyes. They looked cold again. “Are you listening?”

“Um… Uh… What is it…?” I did my best to form words.

“Here.” He set the paper down between us and pointed again.

I tried to focus and get the image out of my head. But it still lingered… I didn’t know he could smile like that. Why did he smile then? Why hasn’t he smiled before? Has anyone seen him do that?

“Shiotani-kun, if you aren’t going to focus then you’ll lose your one chance to get my help.”

I looked at him, annoyed. “Why are you offering help just this one time?”

“Didn’t I mention before? About my conscience?”

“Right, your conscience…”

His annoying attitude got me to put the image of him smiling in the back of my head. I focused on my homework and received his help. The time began to flow by.

“Club members, if you weren’t aware, it is now past five. Everyone can leave. Good work today.” Ono’s announcement surprised me. It was in fact thirty minutes past five.

“You’re almost done,” Yuasa said, “I’m sure you can finish on your own at home.”

“What if I need help…?” His help was great to have and he wasn’t that annoying as he was teaching me stuff I missed in class.

“You have my number, or at least your ‘friend’ Rose does. I’ll be taking my leave now.” Yuasa stood up and gathered his things which were just a bag and a book to return to the shelves.

He won’t let go of the Rose thing in a different way now… I helplessly watched him leave the library. I guess I can contact him with his number but still…

“Seems like you two got a lot done,” Kishi smiled. “I would offer help too but hearing you two talking, I wouldn’t be much help…”

“That’s alright. I hope we didn’t disturb your reading.”

“Not at all. By the way, this is a really good book. You should check it out sometime.”

“I will have to do that then.”

We both smiled. Then we got our things and left the school. I went home to continue my homework. I did my best but got stuck in a couple more places. It took some effort to send Yuasa a text for more help. After I sent it, my phone rang.

“Hurry and tell me what you’re stuck on,” Yuasa said on the other end of the line.

“Fine…” I told him. He helped me through the rest of the problems.

It was a big relief to have it done.

“Thanks… Kitahashi-san…” It’s hard to say thanks when he’s usually so annoying.

“Don’t miss any more school and you won’t have this problem again. I have to go now, I’m having dinner with my parents.”

“Okay, bye–” He hung up. I hate him…

After the call ended, father called me for dinner. As I ate, I thought about Yuasa. His smile is still ingrained into my brain… I hope this doesn’t become a problem…